Magazine-pistol.



PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905.

o. r. MossBERG. MAGAZINE PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 797,306. PATENTBD AUG. 15, 1905.

o. F. Moss'BERG.

MAGAZINE PISTOL. APPLIoATIoN FILED rma. 10,1904.

3 SHEETS-.SHBBT- 2.

No. 797,306.v

PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905. 0. P. MOSSBERG. y MAGAZINE PISTOL.

APPLICATION HLEDPEB. 10,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTED STATES OSCAR F. MOSSBERG, OF OHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAGAZINE-PISTOL.

Y No. 797,306.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 15, 1905.

Application filed February l0, 1904- Serial No. 192,939.

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR F. MossBnRe, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Ohicopee Falls, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Magazine- Pistols, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to firearms, and specifically to magazine-pistols of that type in which the barrel slides longitudinally over a cartridge brought into position by the operation of feeding devices actuated by the barrel, the object thereof being to provide an improved construction of a pistol of this class, which improvements run especially to a magazine construction and cartridge-feeding devices and to means to effect the rebounding of the hammer, together with certain other novel features whereby the construction is cheapened and its manufacture simplified.

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure lis a side elevation of a pistol embodying this invention, certain parts thereof being broken away and certain parts being in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts of the arm in different positions. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the hammer and the rebounding devices in the position they occupy prior to the rebounding movement. Fig. e is a side elevation with the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. l, certain of the parts of jthe arm being broken away, certain others being removed' to more clearly illustrate the construction. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the butt-end of the pistol, showing the location of a slide on the side thereof and its relation to the cartridgefeeding devices. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the arm with the parts in the position shown in Fig. l, except that the hammer is down, as at the firing. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the portion of the arm containing the magazine. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on line 8 8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 9, Fig. 8, looking to the right. Fig. l0 is a vertical section on line 10 10, Fig. 8, looking to the left. Fig. l1 is a view showing in separated relation certain parts of the cartridge-feeding' devices. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a part of the cartridge-feeding devices.

Referring to the drawings, c indicates the barrel of the firearm, which has a sliding movement endwise in the frame b, this movement being imparted thereto by the trigger c,

pivotally attached to the barrel at CZ in a lug Z/ thereon. The trigger has a forward and rearward extension thereon, (indicated, respectively,by c and f.) Between the rearward extension f and the under side of the barrel c is a spring g, whose action tends to keep the forward extension e of the trigger normally up against the under side of the barrel, there being a groove L between the frame and the under side of the barrel in the forward end of the frame to receive this trigger extension e when the barrel moves outwardly. At the rear end of said groove /i the frame is bevveled 0E, as at a, and the end of the forward extension c of the trigger is provided with a similarly-beveled portion, the parts being so proportioned that at the time the barrel reaches the limit of its rearward movement 'and abuts against the recoil-plate j, as shown .in Fig. l, the continued movement of the trigger, whereby the hammer 7c is released, will lfirst effect the engagement of the end of the extension e of the trigger with the frame at the beveled-off point a' thereon, thereby interposing a rigid strut between the frame and the barrel to lock the latter in firing position.

Reference to Fig. 10 will show the rear extension fof the trigger provided with an offset therein to dodge the vertical postm, which is located centrally under the barrel at right angles to the axis of the latter.

The lower half of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 8 particularly, is made enough thicker than the upper side thereof to permit the barrel-retracting springnto be located in a hole bored therein from the rear end forward, said thickened portion being cut away for a certain distance from the rear end of the barrel, as shown in said Fig. 8, to the end that the post In may project up opposite th'e open end of the hole in which said springis located, the latter being spiral in form and provided with a plunger, which bears against the upper end of the post m, and which spring is compressed when the barrel is retracted by a pull on the trigger, said spring by its expansion shooting the barrel forward to withdrawV the empty shell from the rear end of the barrel and to open the upper end of the magazine to permit the ejection of said shell and the feeding of a fresh cartridge into position of alinement with the barrel. The operations whereby all these movements take place will be described in their proper order, the movement of the hammer being first taken up. Thelatter(indicated by Z7) is pivotally supported in the frame at 0 p, indicating the mainspring, which actuates the hammer in the usual manner. The hammer is cocked by means of the arm q. pivotally connected by one end thereof with the hammer, as shown at r, and extends from thence forward to engage a notch q on the rear end of the lug d of the barrel, said arm being provided with a spring s, (shown in Figs. l and 2,) which is secured to the barrel by one end and bears with the other on the point of said arm.

It will be observed by referring to Figs. l, 2, and lO that the rearward extension fof the trigger has a pin zi therein, which extends out toward the side of the arm under a shoulder in the lever u, pivoted in the frame at c. This lever has the double function of sear and a rebounding-lever for the hammer and is normally pressed upward by a spring-actuated plunger w, whereby when the trigger is pulled after the breech of the barrel has come to its seat on the recoil-plate the pin will raise the forward end of the lever u,\vliicl1, lying inthe saine plane as the cocking-arm q and in contact with the under side of the latter, disengages said arm from the notch (j, thus permitting the hammer, actuated by the mainspring p, to fall on the cartridge, the arm Q sliding forward between the barrel and the frame, as shown in Fig. 10. During this forward movement said arm slides in under the `spring s.

1t will berobserved by referring to` Fig. 10 that the side of the barrel and the lug CZ are sufficiently cut away to make roon for the arm Q during said forward movement. Then by the pull on the trigger the forward end of the lever u has been raised far enough to disengage the cocliing-arm q from the barrel, as stated above, the rear end of said lever u will be Idepressed to such a degree that when the hammer falls the boss a' on the side thereof will be located relative to the end of said arm in substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, with the rounded forward edge of said boss in such position that as soon as the pressure on the trigger is relieved, permitting the pin t to move again retracted, the lever u being wedged in between the hammer and the frame, as shown in Fig. Q, rendering it impossible for the hammer to reach the cartridge until the arm has been depressed. A

The foregoing states clearly the operation of the parts of the firearm whereby the barrel is retracted, the hammer cocked and then released, and the barrel moved forward again to open the upper end of the magazine, whereby the empty shell may be separated from the barrel and ejected and a fresh cartridge brought up into alinement with the axis of the barrel by a suitable feeding mechanism.

The magazine construction, the feed mechanism, and other parts associated therewith will now be described.

The frame is constructed, as shown in the various figures of the drawings, and more particularly in Fig. 8, to permit the location of a vertically-disposed chamber 3 centrally thereof between the trigger and the hammer and constituting the magazine. This magazine when the barrel is forward is open up through the frame of the arm, as at 6, Fig. 2, and the cartridges 4 are supported therein by their rims, which engage two grooves 5, one of which is shown in the sectional elevation of Fig. 8 and both of which show clearly in Fig. 6 in plan and are also indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. These grooves extend from the opening 6 at the recoil-plate down to a point below the lower end of the magazine and are located on the forward edges of a vertical slot 7 in the frame, (shown in Fig. 8,) in which slot are located the devices for elevating the cartridges. This elevating mechanism is positively operated automatically when the 'trigger is pulled, and by means of devices to be hereinafter described the automatic operation may be thrown out and the magazine emptied manually by means of the button or thumb-piece 8. (Shown .in Figs. 5 and 6.) In the upper end of the slot 7 is a hook 9, which when a cartridge is pushed up to bring it into position of alinement with the barrel is cammed forward into the path of movement of the rim of the cartridg'e and serves as a gage-stop for the latter. After the feeding devices have been forced downward again to bring up another cartridge a spring back of the hook 9 disengages the latter from the rim of the cartridge.

y When the cartridge has been set up into place,

the barrel slides back over it, (the sides of the barrel at the rear end being cut away,) thus permitting the rim of the cartridge to remain in the grooves 5, and after firing the barrel will be moved forward by its spring n, the empty shell retaining its position, and when the pressure on the trigger is relieved and the barrel has moved forward and another cartridge is brought up into position of alinement with the barrel the hook 9 will be held away from the upper edge of the empty shell and the cartridge below it striking the under side of said shell will throw it out through the opening 6, the hook 9 being actuated by contact with the upper end of the ratchetbar 16 in time to be thrown over the upper edge of the rising cartridge to stop the latter in proper position of alinement with the barrel.

The reciprocating vertical movements of the cartridge feeding mechanism and the means for elevating' the line of cartridges automatically are constructed and arranged as follows: Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that a flat metal bar 12, whose rear end is wedge-shaped, is located between the frame and the side of the barrel and is secured to the latter, as by a pin 13. The wedge-shaped end of this plate 12 bears during the rearward movement of the barrel on the upper edge of a vertically-located plate 14. (Shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and a portion thereof in Fig. 11.) This plate by means of a pin 15 is connected with the ratchet-bar 16, with which a suitable spring 17 is connected, which is compressed when the bar 12 depresses the plate 14 upon the rearward movement of the barrel, at which time one of the ratchet-teeth 13 on said bar becomes engaged by one of the spring-fingers of the plate 19. (Shown in Fig. 12 in perspective and in Fig. 8 in section.) This plate slides in the grooves 5, which receive the rims of the cartridges, and thus when the barrel after firing is shot forward by its spring the spring 17 (which has been compressed by the rearward movement of the barrel) will move the ratchet-bar 16 and its attached plate 14 upwardly, carrying the plate 19. The ratchet-bar 16 is located close to one of the side walls of the vertical slot 7, above referred to, and against the opposite side wall there is secured tixedly another ratchet-bar 20, similar in all respects to the bar 16 except that it is fixed. Therefore when the bar 16 moves upward, carrying the plate 19 with it, one linger of said plate will be in engagement with the ratchetteeth 13 on the bar 16, and when the latter lifts the plate vertically the other inger'thereon will snap into engagement with one of the teeth on the bar 2O when the cartridge has arrived in position of alinement with the barrel. It is at this time also that the hook 9 is operated in the manner hereinbefore described, and the cartridge is therefore held by its rim against vertical movement in either direction.

It is obvious that the length of the step between the teeth on the two ratchet-bars is equal to the distance a cartridge must be lifted between each firing operation, and the wedge on the bar 12 is so proportioned as to give the parts the required vertical movement.

It is self-evident that when the last cartridge in the magazine has been brought to liring position the plate 19 cannot be forced down again in reloading the magazine until it has been released from the iixed ratchetbar 20, and means arc therefore provided whereby when the plate 19 has reached the position referred to, or at any other time, the fingers on said plate may be thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth on the bars 16 and 2O simultaneously, thereby permitting the line of cartridges in the magazine to be moved vertically therein at will, and consequently permitting like movement to the `plate 19. Means to effect this consist of two vertically-disposed bars 21, (preferably made in one piece, as shown in Fig. 11.) of a thin metal plate bent up in U-form to tit the space between the ratchet-bars, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. On the edges of these bars 21 are formed suitably-inclined surfaces 22, preferably arranged in pairs, as shown in Fig. 11. Extending' across the slot 7 in the frame are two pins 23, so located that if the bars 21 are moved vertically in one direction these inclined portions 22 thereof come to a bearing against the pins 23 and will cam the front edges of the bars out past the teeth of the ratchet-bars and against the ends of the lingers on the plate 19, forcing the latter out of engagement with the teeth on these ratchetbars. said linger ends being wider than the thickness of the bars, thus overlapping the edges of the bars 21. 23 serve as guides for the ratchet-bar 1 6. The vertical slot 7 in the frame in which these cartridge-feeding devices are located has disposed centrally between the two side walls thereof a rib, (shown in Fig. 9 most plainly and lettered 25,) the bars 21 being located one i be moved by grasping the lower end thereof As shown in Fig. 11, each of the bars 21 is provided with a rearwardly-projecting lug 27, each having a hole therein. (See Figs. 2, 4, and 8.) The spring 28 is a bow-spring' of about the width of the rib 25 and bearing' thereon at each end, there being located centrally on opposite sides thereof two laterallyextending arms which enter the holes in the lugs 27. This spring causes the bars 21 to move under more or less fr ictional resistance.

It is evident that when the bars 21 have been drawn out, as in Fig'. 9, the lingers of the plate 19 will be cammed out of engagement both with the fixed ratchet-bar 20 and the movable ratchet-bar 16; but it will be remembered that connected with the latter is a vertically-sliding' plate 14, on the upper end of which is the button 8, (shown in Figs. 5 and 6,) located on the side of the arm and connected with the plate 14 through a slot 30 in the frame. If now it is desired to empty the magazine, the button 8 may be operated reciprocally in the slot 30, and this through the ratchet-bar 16 will operate the plate 19, and the cartridges will be ejected one upon Incidentally these pins each upward movement of said plate. If the bars 21 be drawn downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9, the arm may be manipulated as in firing, but without feeding up the cartridges. be in this manner cut oif.

If desired. the frame of the arm may be (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) extended rearwardly to inclose the hammer. Furthermore, to protect the arm from the intrusion of dust,

&c., the opening 6 in the frame is provided with a sliding cover 31, (shown in section in Figs. 8 and 10 and in elevation in Figs. 1,72, and 4,) which will slide with the barrel as it moves back and forth in the frame; but when the barrel is forward the slideV may be drawn back to cover the opening, as shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 8.

An important device is the slide 33, (which is shown in Figs. 4 and 7 particularly) Which consists in an L-shaped member, one upstanding end of which projects into the path of movement of the bar 12 on the side of the barrel and which is engaged by a shoulder on said bar when the barrel is retracted, whereby the other end of the slide 33 is moved into engagement with a notch in the upper end of the plate 14. As this slide 33 remains stationary until moved into or out of engaging position by the bar 12 or some similar device on the barrel, the latter may after having been retracted and the arm fired move forward again far enough to uncover the upper end of the magazine before this slide 33 will be withdrawn from its engagement with the plate 14; but when this withdrawal is effected the spring 17 will be released to operate the cartridge-feeding devices and eject the empty shell in the manner already described. Thus by means of this slide the time required to open the upper end of the magazine by the forward movement of the barrel is provided. As shown in Fig. 7, the slide 33 is loosely located in a slot 34, milled in the upper edge of that part of the frame which constitutes one of the walls of the magazine 3.

For the economical construction of the arm and to permit the easy assembling of the same I prefer to make the frame in three pieces, which perhaps are best shown in Fig. 8, said pieces comprising that portion lying to the right of the section-line 9 and which contains all of the firing mechanism and cartridge-feed mechanism and supports the cartridges themselves and to which is secured by a screw 35 .portion and that portion of the arm lying to the right of the section-line 9 9, heretofore referred to, are further united by a plate U- shaped in cross-section located astride of the barrel and overlapping more or less the other In other words, the magazine may two frame parts and shown clearly in Fig. 10. This plate is provided with vertically-disposed sides, the sides of the barrel being slabbed ofi to iit therein. This plate is secured to the trigger-carrying portion of the frame at 36, and it is secured to the handle part of the frame by the screws 37 and 38, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 5,) this frame part thus constituting the side plates of the arm. This plate may be very cheaply made from a fiat plate bent up to shape, the opening 6 therein being punched out when the plate is punched.

To load the arm, the bars 21 are operated to throw out of gear the cartridge-elevating devices-wiz., the ratchet-bar 16 and the plate 194-and cartridges may then be inserted in the magazine, their heads in engagement with the grooves 5, the cartridges gradually forcing the plate 19 downward. After charging the magazine the bars 21 are then pushed upward to release the fingers on the plate 19, which again press upon the fixed and movable ratchetbars, and when the latter is operated by the barrel one of its teeth will pick up the plate and carry it upward, and the finger on the other side of the plate will snap into the iixed ratchet-bar and secure the plate against downward movement.

Having thus described my invention` what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A magazine-pistol comprising a frame, a sliding barrel, and a magazine vertically disposed relative to the breech end of the barrel; a cartridge-feeding mechanism consisting of a fixed ratchet and a vertically-movable ratchet, and a member to support the cartridges; dcvices on said member to independently engage the movable ratchet and the fixed ratchet, and means operated by the movement of the barrel in one direction to locate said movable ratchet in cartridge-feeding position, and a spring to move the ratchet in the opposite direction.

2. A magazine-pistol comprisingaframe, a sliding' barrel, and a magazine vertically disposed relative to the breech end of the barrel; a cartridge-feeding mechanism consisting of a member to support the cartridges, and a ratchet to move said member upward step by step; a stop arranged to hold said member against a return movement, together with means to render said feeding mechanism inoperative, whereby said cartridge-supporting member may be moved in a direction contrary to the feed movement, and a member on the barrel to move said ratchet in one direction, and a spring to move it in the opposite direction.

3. A magazine-pistol comprising a frame, a sliding barrel, a magazine vertically disposed relative to the barrel, a cartridge-feeding mechanism operated by the movement of the barrel, a pivotally-supported hook constituting a stop located normally out of the path of movement of the cartridge, and means on the feeding device to swing the hook over the head of a cartridge to stop the latter in axial alinement with the barrel.

4L. In a magazine-pistol, a magazine vertically disposed relative to the barrel, feeding devices to feed the cartridges step by step upwardly in said magazine, means on the barrel to move said feeding devices in one direction,

a spring to move them in the opposite direc-` tion, and a member extending through a slot in the frame of the pistol and connected with said feeding' devices whereby a part of the latter may be actuated to eject the cartridge from the magazine independently of the means on the barrel.

5. In a magazine-pistol, a magazine vertically disposed relative to the barrel; means operated by the movement of the barrel to feed the cartridges step by step upwardly therein, a stop to limit the movement of the uppermost cartridge, and means to move said stop out of the path of movement of the cartridges at the beginning of the feeding movement, to permit the first cartridge to be ejected by the movement of the second, together' with a device associated with the feeding devices to move the stop over said second cartridge to hold it in line with the barrel.

6. In a magazine-pistol of the sliding-barrel type, a frame having a vertical slot therein for the cartridge-feeding devices; there being a recess forward of and opening into said slot to constitute a magazine, the forward edges of said slot having oppositely-located grooves for the rims of the cartridges; a member slidably supported under the cartridges and in said grooves, a ratchet-bar, means on said slidable member to engage a tooth in the ratchet-bar, and a member eX- tending through a slot in the frame and movable relative to said slidable member to disengage the latter from the ratchet-bar; a barrel slidable in the fratrie, and a member on the barrel to move the ratchet-bar in one direction, and a spring to move it in the opposite direction.

7. A magazine-pistol comprising in a suitable frame a sliding barrel, a trigger pivotally secured thereto and having a forwardlyextending portion thereon substantially parallel with the barrel, a hammer, an arm pivoted on the hammer extending forwardly toward the barrel and engaging with a notch thereon, a projection on the rear end of the trigger to disengage said arm at the limit of the rearward movement of the barrel to release the hammer, together with a suitable magazine vertically disposed relative to the breech end of the barrel, feeding devices to elevate the cartridges in the magazine successively to a position of alinement with the barrel; a member on the barrel to move said feeding devices into feeding position, and a spring to move them in the opposite direction, there being a shoulder on the frame of the arm with which said forwardly-extending portion of the trigger engages to lock the barrel in firing position.

8. In a magazine-pistol, a vertically-disposed magazine having two oppositely-located grooves whereby the cartridges may be held in vertical alinement by their rims, means to elevate the cartridges one by one consisting of a slidable member located in said grooves below the cartridges, a xed ratchet-bar and a movable ratchet-bar with each of which said sliding member engages, and a device operable from outside the frame to disengage said slidable member from said fixed and movable ratchet-bars.

9. In a magazine-pistol, a sliding barrel, a suitable frame, a trigger pivotally supported on the barrel to move the latter into firing position a sear operatively located relative to the trigger, and a forwardly-extending portion on the trigger to engage a shoulder on the frame to lock the barrel in firing position, together with a rearwardly-eirtending portion of the trigger arranged to release the sear after the locking of the barrel.

l0. In a magazine-pistol, a sliding barrel, a vertically-disposed magazine and verticallyoperating cartridge-feeding devices for the latter; a wedge-shaped arm on the barrel to engage a portion of the feeding devices to depress the latter during the rearward movement of the barrel, means to hold said feeding devices in a depressed position during the beginning of the forward movement of the barrel, and a device operated by the latter movement of the barrel to release the feeding devices, and a spring to move the feeding devices upward.

l1. A magazine-pistol comprising a sliding barrel, a hammer, .a cooking-arm pivotally connected with the hammer and engaging a notch in the barrel, a trigger operatively supported on a lug on the barrel to retract the latter and to disengage the cooking-arm therefrom; an 'arm pivotally supported between its ends on the frame parallel with the cocking-arm, and means to depress the rear end of said arm on the frame by the movement of the trigger in firing; a boss on the side of the hammer and disposed above the depressed end of said arm on the frame, upon the fall of the hammer, and a spring to force the depressed end of said arm upward against said boss to rebound the hammer upon the release of the trigger.

12. In a pistol, a sliding barrel, a hammer, and a trigger attached to the barrel; connections between the barrel and hammer to cock the latter, and an arm supported pivotally on the frame and operable upon the release of the trigger after the firing movement thereof, to rebound the hammer.

13. In a pistol, a sliding barrel, a hammer, and a trigger attached to the barrel; connections between the barrel and hammer to cock the latter, and a rock-arm supported in operative relation to the hammer and trigger, and operable upon the release of the trigger after the liring movement of the latter, to rebound the hammer, said arm constituting a rigid strut between the hammer and frame of the pistol, together with means on the trigger to move said arm out of engaging position with the hammer prior to the fall of the latter.

14. The combination in a pistol, of a sliding barrel, a trigger connected therewith to retract the barrel, an arm on the trigger arranged to engage a shoulder on the frame to interpose a rigid strut between the barrel and frame at the moment of iiring, and a suitable spring to project the barrel forward after liring; said strut being held in operative position by the pull on the trigger.

15. In a magazine-pistol, feeding mechanism consisting of a fixed ratchet, a movable ratchet, and a sliding member to elevate the cartridges, said member being provided with means to engage said fixed and movable ratchets independently, together with automatic means to move the movable ratchet reciprocally in parallelism with the fixed ratchet.

16. In a magazine-pistol of the class described, a sliding barrel, a trigger' connected therewith to retract the barrel, a wedge operated by the movement of the barrel, a

Y ratchet operated cartridge feeding mechanism consisting ot' a cartridge-elevating member, a fixed ratchet-bar, a movable ratchetbar, and connections between the latter and said wedge to move said last-named Vbar in one direction when the barrel is retracted, and a spring to move it in the opposite direction when the barrel is projected forward.

17. In a magazine-pistol. feeding mechanism consisting of a fixed ratchet, a movable ratchet, and a sliding member to elevate the cartridges, said member being provided with means to engage said fixed and movable ratchets independently together with automatic means to move the movable ratchet both manually and automatically to impart reciprocal movements thereto in parallelism with the fixed ratchet.

18. A magazine-pistol comprising a frame, a sliding barrel, a magazine, and cartridgefeeding devices associated with the magazine, the latter having an open upper end; a cover for the open end of the magazine frictionally engaging the barrel and normally movable therewith, and movable independently ot' the barrel to cover said open end of the magazine.

OSCAR F. MOSSBERG. I/Vitnesses:

IVM. H. CHAPIN, K. I. CLEMoNs. 

